Electric switch module

ABSTRACT

A switch module comprising a body having on opposite sides thereof an electrical plug and an electrical socket. The plug and socket have corresponding electrical contacts and the plug is so dimensioned that it can mate with a socket which is substantially identical to the socket on the other face of the body of the switch module. A switch mechanism is incorporated in the body of the switch module and is capable of completing connections between selected contacts. There are inter-connections between corresponding contacts on the plug and the socket which are not, in use, connected by the switch mechanism. The invention further resides in a switch assembly for mounting on the steering column of the vehicle and comprising first and second switches having bores therethrough which in use receive the steering column. The first switch has a plug on one side thereof coaxial with the bore and the second switch has on one side thereof a socket in which the plug of the first switch is engageable. The second switch has on its face opposite the first switch a plug substantially identical to the plug of the first switch. The second switch having interconnections between selected contacts on the plug and socket respectively and a further socket adapted to be received by the plug on the second switch to provide external electrical connections for the assembly.

United States Patent [191 Cryer 1 ELECTRIC SWITCH MODULE [75] Inventor: Edward Cryer,I-Iigham,Nr.

Burnley, England [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited, Birmingham, England [22] Filed: June 23, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 265,692

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Attorney-John C. Holman et al.

[4 Oct. 16, 1973 571 ABSTRACT A switch module comprising a body having on opposite sides thereof an electrical plug and an electrical socket. The plug and socket have corresponding electrical contacts and the plug is so dimensioned that it can mate with a socket which is substantially identical to the socket on the other face of the body of the switch module. A switch mechanism is incorporated in the body of the switch module and is capable of completing connections between selected contacts. There are inter-connections between corresponding contacts on the plug and the socket which are not, in use, connected by the switch mechanism.

face opposite the first switch a plug substantially identical to the plug of the first switch. The second switch having interconnections between selected contacts on the plug and socket respectively and a further socket adapted to be received by the plug on the second switch to provide external electrical connections for the assembly.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 1 ELECTRIC SWITCH MODULE This invention relates to a switch module which can be assembled in tandem with similar switch modules.

A switch module according to the invention comprises a body having on opposite sides thereof an electrical plug and an electrical socket, said plug and socket having a plurality of corresponding contacts, the plug being dimensioned so as to be receivable by a socket which is substantially identical to the socket on said other face, a switch mechanism in the body operable to complete connections between selected contacts, and inter-connections between corresponding contacts on the plug and socket which are not, in use, connected by the switch mechanism.

The invention further resides in a switch assembly for mounting on the steering column of a vehicle, comprising first and second switches having bores through which, in use, said column extends, said first switch having on one side thereof a plug coaxial with said bore, said second switch having on one side thereof a socket in which the plug on the first switch is engageable and on an opposite side thereof a plug substantially identical to the plug of the first switch, said second switch having interconnections between selected contacts on the plug and socket respectively, and a further socket adapted to be received by the plug on the second switch to provide external electrical connections for the assembly.

An example of the invention willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows, somewhat diagrammatically, a longitudinal section through a switch arrangement. The arrangement includes switches 10, 11, 12, 13 which are arranged in tandem on a steering column 14 of a road vehicle. Each of the switches 10, 11, 12, 13 has an insulating body which is generally in the formof a disc having an axial bore 15 through which the column 14 extends. Each switch body has a pair of parallel, axially directed faces 16, 17.

Extending from face 17 of switch is a spigot 18 of the same material as the body. Spigot 18 supports a plurality of Contact strips 19 which extend axially of spigot 18 to provide a plug.

Contact strips 19 extend within the body of switch 10, and selected ones of these contacts are interconnectible by a switch mechanism, shown generally at 20, within the switch 10.

Switch 11, abuts switch 10, adjacent faces 17, 16 of the respective switches l0, 11 being in contact. Face 17 of switch 11 has a spigot 21 extending therefrom and supporting contact strips 22, providing a plug identical to the plug of switch 10. Within the body of switch 11 is a switch mechanism 23 operable to interconnect selected ones of the contacts 22. The remainder of the contacts 22 are cranked within switch 1 1 and lie on the inside of an insulating sleeve 24 so as to provide a socket capable of receiving the plug of switch 10, the said remainder of contacts 22 engaging associated contacts l9.

Switches 12, 13 are generally similar to switch 11. The switch mechanisms of switches 10, 11 and 12, however, are provided with operating elements in the form of levers 10a, 11a, 12a which extend generally rathe push-push type, operated by a button 130. Selected contacts of switches 12, 13 are inter-connectible by the associated switch mechanisms, the others of the contacts extending through the switches, as described in connection with switch 11.

Surrounding the column 14 below switch 13 is a socket 25 adapted to receive the downwardly extending plug of switch 13. Socket 25 has contacts 26 to which cables 27 are connected to provide external connections for the switch assembly. Socket 25 has a body of resilient plastics material having three equispaced retaining tongues 28 which engage in complementary recesses in switch 13. Switches 10, 11 and 12 are also provided with recesses in which tongues 28 of the adjacent switch can engage to physically interconnect the switches. The socket 25 is secured to the column 14 and the switches 10, 11 and 12 are subsequently assembled on to the column 14, being supported and located by the socket 25.

It will be seen therefore, that any of switches 10, 11 12, 13 can be assembled onto shaft 14 either alone or in combination with any others of the switches, the necessary connections being made to socket 25 via the aligned contacts of the switches. Furthermore, with the exception of switch 10 which when fitted is always at the top, the switches may be arranged in any order on shaft 14.

In a typical switch arrangement, switch 10 is associated with direction indicators, switch 11 with lighting, switch 12 with windscreen wipers and switch 13 with a hazard warning system.

I claim:

1. A switch assembly for mounting on the steering column of a vehicle, the assembly comprising a first switch unit having a bore extending therethrough capable of receiving a vehicle steering column, a firstpart of an electrical plug and socket connector carried by said first switch unit and accessible at one side of said unit, a second switch unit having extending therethrough a bore within which the steering column can be received, a second part of said electrical plug and socket connector carried by said second switch unit and mating with said first part of the connector carried by the first switch unit, a first part of a second electrical plug and socket connector carried by said second switch unit and accessible on the side of the second switch unit remote from the first switch unit, and, a second part of the second plug and socket connector mating with said first part of the second plug and socket connector carried by said second switch unit, said second part of said second connector unit providing external electrical connections to the second switch unit, and also providing external electrical connections to the first switch unit by way of conductors extending within the second switch unit from the first part of the second plug and socket connector to the second part of the first plug and socket connector.

2. A switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second plug and socket connector units are coaxial with said bores of said switch units, said first parts of said first and second connectors being plug parts, and said second parts of said plug and socket dially of the column 14. Switch 13 has a mechanism of COI'II'ICCtOl'S being connector parts. 

1. A switch assembly for mounting on the steering column of a vehicle, the assembly comprising a first switch unit having a bore extending therethrough capable of receiving a vehicle steering column, a first part of an electrical plug and socket connector carried by said first switch unit and accessible at one side of said unit, a second switch unit having extending therethrough a bore within which the steering column can be received, a second part of said electrical plug and socket connector carried by said second switch unit and mating with said first part of the connector carried by the first switch unit, a first part of a second electrical plug and socket connector carried by said second switch unit and accessible on the side of the second switch unit remote from the first switch unit, and, a second part of the second plug and socket connector mating with said first part of the second plug and socket connector carried by said second switch unit, said second part of said second connector unit providing external electrical connections to the second switch unit, and also providing external electrical connections to the first switch unit by way of conductors extending within the second switch unit from the first part of the second plug and socket connector to the second part of the first plug and socket connector.
 2. A switch assembly as claimed iN claim 1 wherein said first and second plug and socket connector units are coaxial with said bores of said switch units, said first parts of said first and second connectors being plug parts, and said second parts of said plug and socket connectors being connector parts. 